Autumn arrived at the Grand Academy.
The leaves covering the Sacred Peaks slowly changed from green to brilliant shades of gold and crimson.
With the new season...
The first-year disciples reached another milestone.
---
The great bronze bell rang once.
Every Outer Court disciple gathered in the Mission Hall.
The spacious building buzzed with excitement.
Rows of jade boards covered the walls.
Each board displayed dozens of missions.
Herb gathering.
Escorting merchant caravans.
Surveying Magical Beast habitats.
Investigating strange phenomena.
Maintaining ancient formations.
Each mission carried a different reward.
Contribution Points.
Spirit herbs.
Rare materials.
Or guidance from senior instructors.
---
An Academy Elder stood before the gathered disciples.
"Knowledge gained within these walls is important."
He looked around the hall.
"But knowledge without experience..."
"...remains incomplete."
He gestured toward the mission boards.
"Your first mission will not test your strength."
"It will test your judgment."
"Choose carefully."
---
Students immediately rushed toward the boards.
The more difficult missions were quickly surrounded.
Some disciples sought glory.
Others sought higher rewards.
Kieran remained where he was.
Simply reading.
---
Mira ran over, excitement written across her face.
"Kieran!"
"We're forming a team!"
Ronan and Selene soon joined them.
"The Academy recommends teams of four."
Selene explained.
"It'll also allow us to accept slightly higher-ranked missions."
Ronan nodded once.
"I agree."
Kieran smiled.
"So do I."
---
The four carefully examined the available missions.
Most were straightforward.
Some involved escorting merchants.
Others required hunting troublesome Magical Beasts.
Then...
One mission caught Kieran's attention.
Mission 147
Location: Whispering Brook Forest
Objective: Investigate unusual changes in the local Magna flow and determine the cause.
Danger Level: Low
Recommended Team: Four to Six Disciples
Reward:
Thirty Contribution Points
---
Mira tilted her head.
"That's... strange."
Ronan folded his arms.
"It doesn't involve fighting."
Selene adjusted her glasses.
"Which means people ignored it."
Kieran continued reading the details.
"There have been no injuries."
"No aggressive Magical Beasts."
"Only unusual Magna disturbances."
He looked toward his friends.
"I'd like to choose this one."
No one objected.
---
After registering their mission...
An instructor handed them a small jade token.
"This token records your progress."
He looked at the four students.
"Remember."
"Your objective is investigation."
"If the situation exceeds your abilities..."
"Return immediately."
"Do not act recklessly."
The four bowed.
"Yes, Instructor."
---
The following morning...
They departed the Academy.
For the first time since enrolling...
Kieran stepped beyond the Sacred Peaks.
The journey to Whispering Brook Forest took only half a day.
The forest itself was peaceful.
Clear streams flowed between ancient trees.
Birdsong echoed through the woods.
Nothing appeared unusual.
---
Mira looked around.
"This place doesn't seem dangerous."
Selene consulted the mission scroll.
"The disturbances were reported near the center of the forest."
Ronan silently took the lead.
His spear rested comfortably upon his shoulder.
---
As they ventured deeper...
Kieran suddenly stopped.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You felt it?"
Selene asked.
He nodded.
"The Magna."
"It's..."
He searched for the right word.
"...hesitating."
The others exchanged puzzled glances.
They couldn't sense anything unusual.
---
Kieran knelt beside a patch of wildflowers.
The surrounding Magna flowed naturally toward every plant.
Except one.
A small blue flower.
The Magna curved around it.
Avoiding it.
As though the flower itself rejected it.
---
He carefully observed the surrounding area.
There.
Barely visible beneath fallen leaves.
A faint line had been carved into the earth.
Another several meters away.
Then another.
Together...
They formed part of an ancient pattern.
Not a complete formation.
Only fragments.
---
Selene knelt beside him.
Her eyes widened.
"Formation markings..."
"They're incredibly old."
Ronan frowned.
"Can you identify them?"
She slowly shook her head.
"No..."
"They've weathered too much."
---
Kieran brushed away more leaves.
The fragmented lines gradually became clearer.
He quietly followed them with his eyes.
Not trying to memorize them.
Trying to understand them.
Several long moments passed.
Then...
He smiled faintly.
"I don't think this formation was damaged."
The others looked toward him.
"I think..."
"...someone intentionally erased most of it."
The forest breeze suddenly grew stronger.
The surrounding Magna shifted once more.
Deep beneath the earth...
Something ancient stirred.
Not awakened.
Merely...
Aware.
The four friends instinctively looked toward the heart of the forest.
Whatever had caused the strange Magna disturbances...
They had just taken their first step toward finding it.
End of Chapter 82